After reading the recent coverage about the mass resignation of five board members from the Santa Clarita Veterans Services Collaborative, I began researching the issue myself.
What I discovered through public filings and county documentation raised serious questions about transparency and accountability.
In the statement by the collaborative, the collaborative’s president suggested that anyone with concerns should come directly to him for clarification. After witnessing the harassment and intimidation directed toward Dr. Harleen Grewal and her husband since she tried to address these same issues, I made a conscious decision not to engage him directly. No community member or volunteer should have to risk their safety or livelihood for asking hard questions about public accountability.
Instead, I brought the matter to neutral oversight agencies — the California attorney general, the Internal Revenue Service, and Los Angeles County — to let them make an objective determination. These are the appropriate authorities to review evidence.
This isn’t about politics or personalities; it’s about integrity and respect for our veterans and the donors who support them. Those who give their time, money and trust to serve veterans deserve complete honesty about how funds are spent.
It’s time to ensure transparency, protect those who speak up, and restore trust in organizations meant to serve our heroes.
Nancy Fairbanks
Valencia
